Seems fishy, so what's the catch?
 

New 2005 Cannondale Tandem for $1200 and that's supposedly a complete bicycle. So if it's too good to be true, it probably is, but what's the catch? I noticed the seller has no feedback, so is this a common scam or what?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2005-CANNOND...QQcmdZViewItem

Scam... The perp runs these ads for '05 Cannondale MT1000, Cannondale RT1000, and more recently Trek T2000 tandems. They show up as 2 or 3 day auctions with ridiculously low prices and entice interested bidders to Email for more information. I've seen as many as 6 of these going at a time.

Bottom Line: If it looks to be good to be true, it usually is.

TG is correct it is a sham - they also steal other ebay identies to appear more legit. Also they do alot of re-listing of tandems already sold and second chance offers. If they ask you for a Western Union Money Gram you know they are not legit. They also work out of Britian or France or run alot Private Auctions. I turn them in regularly to the Ebay police, but they come right back. It seems like everytime I bid on a Tandem one of these guys sends me a offer I can't refuse.

The scam is it's eBay- lots of scammers on eBay. I've bought some good stuff there, and been bilked as well. Good News: got bilked on a $30 part. RoadBike Review.com's classifieds are better (the folks seem to be cyclists, not profiteers), but they'll seldom have tandem stuff. This isn't a big market.

They also set up scam escrow sites.I really wish ebay would stop allowing "private" auctions,one of the scammers favorite tools.

dan

I think one of the big keys is going with PayPal, which is 1. legitimate, 2. doesn't share personal info, and 3. has built-in safeguards to get your $$ back if you get screwed.

In fact, I just ordered a bluetooth headset for my cell phone, and the seller went "out of business" and never sent the product. PayPal got me a full refund for the purchase price plus shipping.

In 99% of cases, if a seller isn't willing to use paypal, you should worry.

DrPete

eBay has pulled the listing for the tandem that started this thread. I guess I'm fortunate to be a sceptic. I was raised by a cop and I do believe that any deal to good to be true is to good to be true.

Doc

There will be another pair within a few days... been seeing that scam with those bikes since before September.